Anniversaries

55th anniversary

May 21, 2011

R.P. "Tom" and Marie Gilmore of the Harpertown community will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.

The couple were married May 25, 1956, by Dr. J.D. Engle at Woodford Memorial United Methodist Church, where they both remain members today. Present at their wedding were their lifelong friends, Bill and Jerry Stankus as witnesses.

Mr. Gilmore is the son of the late D.H. "Pete" and Flo S. Gilmore. He began working for the Western Maryland Railroad in 1956 and remained with the railroad through the buyouts and name changes of Chessie and later CSX. He retired as the last trainmaster in Elkins in 1996 after 40 years of service. Along with being his career for 40 years, the railroad has been his passion. He is an avid collector of railroad memorabilia and history. His other hobbies include hunting and gardening.

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Mrs. Gilmore is the daughter of the late Arden M. and Alta Naomi Zirkle. She was very active in the life of her daughters helping with school functions, Sunday school, Girl Scouts and active with the Elkins High School band. She is a member of the Order of Eastern Star and is still active with the Creative Homemakers Club where she participates in community service.

They are the parents of three daughters, Debbie Bensey and husband, John, of Orlando, Florida, Kim Gautschi and husband, Stephen, of Aurora, Illinois, and Bobbie Eppinger and husband, Herb, of Martinsburg. They also have six grandchildren, Courtney and Megan Bensey, Will and Calley Gautschi and Josh and Hayley Eppinger.

After 55 years of marriage, they still live in the home where they raised their family. Together, they enjoy family, friends, the Mountaineers and their dog, Daisy.